An unusual operation to rescue wild animals to prevent damage to agricultural crops has been launched in the Shajapur district of Madhya Pradesh. The rescue campaign is taking place in the border areas of the districts of Shujalpur, Kalapipal, and Ujjain, utilizing helicopters to move spotted deer and nilgai to safe locations.
On the first day of the campaign, 97 spotted deer were caught using the Boma method in the village of Hannuheri. This campaign will run from October 9 to October 31, 2026, and involves a nature conservation team from South Africa with the support of the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department. The goal of the operation is to safely transport wild animals to designated zones to minimize crop losses for farmers.
In the first phase of the rescue operation, the spotted deer were transported to a specific perimeter by helicopter using the 'Hanka' technique. Subsequently, they were safely captured using the Boma technique. Experts suspended the rescue operation in the afternoon when the temperature exceeded 29 degrees Celsius, following specialist recommendations. The next phase is planned to begin late Saturday evening or early Sunday morning.
Organizers reported that the rescue of wild animals using the Boma and helicopter methods in the Shujalpur area is being conducted for the second consecutive year. A similar method was also used in this region last year.
Fourteen experts from the South African nature conservation team are participating in this special campaign. In addition to them, employees and officials from the Forest Department, Revenue Department, and Police are involved in the operation. The total team, composed of staff from cities such as Bhopal, numbers about 200 people.
Previously, Forest Department heads, including Secretary Ragavendra Kumar Singh, Chief Forest Warden, and Forest Force Head Shubhanjan Sen, Chief Forest Warden and Wildlife Inspector Dr. Samit Rajoru, Collector Ridhu Bafnu, and Campaign Coordinator Dr. Kiran Bisen, inspected the preparatory measures in Hannuheri village. These officials discussed the readiness and organizational aspects of the campaign with the expert team from South Africa.
The Forest Department and district administration urged local residents to exercise extreme caution during the operation. According to officials, the safety of residents is as high a priority as the safety of the wild animals. Residents were advised not to leave their homes unnecessarily in the campaign zones and to refrain from agricultural work, irrigation, or other field activities until notified that the operation has concluded. They were also advised to keep children away from fields, roads, and Boma installation sites, and not to leave domestic animals, including cows, buffaloes, goats, and dogs, outdoors.
The Forest Department also appealed to the public not to chase, surround, or attempt to drive away wild animals, nor to gather in crowds in response to helicopter noise. It was strongly recommended to avoid unauthorized entry into designated safety zones and to follow local authority instructions.